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Penguin Love…. Would You Read this Book to Your Child?

This book offended the most library users in 2007 – and the year before too. Was it a political book? An explicit novel? An ultra-violent thriller?

Nope – it’s about penguins. And Tango Makes Three is a children’s picture book based on the true story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who lived as a couple at the New York zoo. The zoo-keepers noticed that the penguin couple were trying to hatch an egg-shaped rock. (aww.) So the zoo-keepers gave them an egg from another penguin couple who had too many to hatch by themselves. The penguin parents took great care of the egg, (double aww) which hatched into a baby girl penguin, Tango. (triple awww!)

But gay penguins really seem to offend some people. Hundreds of parents have complained to libraries and schools, and the book has been withdrawn in some cases.

I think this is a really sweet story, and critics agree, as the book has won several prizes for children’s literature. The pictures are adorable. (Who’s a sucker for fluffy chicks? Yeah, me) It’s a lovely, touching story that’s a marvellous way to show young children that families come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a beautiful testament to fatherhood, and reminds us of what’s most important in a family is love – not what gender the parents are.

So would you read this book to your child?

Test

Posted by brit on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Reviews.
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One Response to “Penguin Love…. Would You Read this Book to Your Child?”

Sounds like a really cute story. And there are a few similar titles, using real people rather than anthropomorphic animals, that have been out for years on this topic, including the famous Heather Has Two Mommies.

I wonder if what makes this title so offensive to some people is the fact that they are penguins… or two *daddies?*

And hmm…maybe scifi dad is really on to something w/ his post about discrimination against “fatherly” men.